How do you avoid phishing and scam emails from fake recruiters or employers?

1 Check the sender's email address

The first thing you should do when you receive an email from a recruiter or employer is to check the sender's email address. Does it match the company's domain name or website? Is it spelled correctly and professionally? Does it have any suspicious or random characters or numbers? If the email address looks suspicious, do not reply, click on any links, or open any attachments. It could be a phishing or scam email from a fake recruiter or employer.

2 Verify the company's identity and reputation

The next thing you should do is to verify the company's identity and reputation. Do some research on the company's website, social media, and online reviews. Is the company legitimate and reputable? Does it have a clear and consistent online presence? Does it match the information and offer in the email? If you have any doubts or questions, contact the company directly through their official channels and ask for confirmation. Do not trust any email that asks you to send money, personal information, or documents without verifying the company's identity and reputation.

3 Look for signs of phishing and scam emails

Beware of phishing and scam emails from fake recruiters or employers. These emails often have common signs that can indicate they are fraudulent. For example, the email could be unsolicited, unexpected, or urgent, with spelling, grammar, or formatting errors. Additionally, it may ask you to click on a link, open an attachment, or download a file, or provide personal or financial information. If any of these signs appear, do not respond or provide anything; instead delete the email and report it as spam or phishing.

4 Use online security and privacy best practices

To protect yourself from phishing and scam emails from fake recruiters or employers, you should use online security and privacy best practices. This includes creating a strong and unique password for each of your online accounts and changing it regularly, as well as using a reputable antivirus and firewall software that is kept up-to-date. Furthermore, use a secure connection when browsing the web or sending emails, do not share personal or financial information with anyone you do not know or trust online, avoid opening or downloading files or attachments from unknown or suspicious sources, be cautious of clicking on links or pop-ups without verifying their source and destination, and be mindful of what you post or share on social media and other online platforms. By following these tips, you can ensure your online security and privacy remain intact.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?